Ingredients
Buying Fresh Mint for Tea
Moroccan mint tea lives or dies by its mint, and the mint must be the right kind: spearmint, called na'na, not the sharp menthol punch of peppermint. Buying good, fresh spearmint and keeping it lively is a small thing that makes a big difference to your tea.
At a glance
- Use spearmint (na'na), never peppermint — peppermint's menthol overpowers the tea
- Choose perky, bright-green leaves with firm stems and a clean, sweet smell
- Use whole stalks packed generously — a big handful per pot, not a few leaves
- Keep it fresh standing in water like cut flowers, and wash only before use
Guide
Spearmint (na'na) is the mint of Moroccan tea — sweet, rounded and fresh, without the aggressive cooling menthol of peppermint, which would overwhelm the delicate green tea. When you buy it, look for perky, bright-green leaves on firm stems, with no blackened, slimy or yellowing patches. Give it a gentle sniff: it should smell clean and sweetly minty. Limp, wilted bunches are past their best and will give a tired brew.
Moroccans use whole stalks, leaves and stems together, packed generously into the pot — a proper glass of tea uses a big handful, not a few token leaves. In summer, mint tea is sometimes lightened or varied with other herbs: a little wormwood (sheeba) in winter for warmth, or lemon verbena, sage or orange blossom in season, but spearmint remains the base.
To keep mint fresh, treat it like a bunch of flowers: trim the stems and stand them in a glass of water on the counter or in the fridge, loosely covered, and it stays perky for several days. Alternatively wrap it in a slightly damp cloth or paper in the fridge. Wash it only just before using. If you grow your own, spearmint is easy and vigorous — a pot on a sunny sill gives you tea mint on demand, and picking it fresh is unbeatable.
Practical tips
- 1
Stand mint stems in a glass of water to keep it perky for days.
- 2
Add the mint after the green tea has steeped so it stays fresh and doesn't stew bitter.
- 3
Grow spearmint in a pot — it's vigorous and gives you tea mint on demand.
- 4
In winter, a little wormwood (sheeba) alongside the mint adds traditional warmth.
- 5
Avoid limp, blackened bunches; tired mint makes a tired, flat tea.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of mint is used in Moroccan tea?
Spearmint, known as na'na — sweet and fresh without the strong menthol of peppermint. Peppermint is too sharp and would overwhelm the green tea.
How do I keep fresh mint from wilting?
Trim the stems and stand the bunch in a glass of water like cut flowers, loosely covered, on the counter or in the fridge. It stays perky for several days; wash it only before use.
How much mint goes in Moroccan tea?
A generous amount — a big handful of whole stalks per pot, stems and all. Moroccan tea is heavily minted, not just lightly flavoured.
Try the recipes
Put the tip into practice with these free step-by-step recipes: